Ophthalmic lens



I P 1 -9, 1941.- 1... L. GAGNON 1- AL 2,240,157

OPHTHALMIC LENS Filed May 25, 1938 INVENTOR 4001.5 L. 6776/90 72 460 El MOULTO/ 2 Ano sv rig 7 Referring to the drawing:

Patented Apr. 29', i941 FFIE OPHTHALMIC LENS Louis L. Gagnon and bridg Mass, assigno Company, Sonthb'ridge',

We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details, arrangements and methods shown and described. as the preferred forms only have been given ,by way of illustration.

Harold It. Moulton, southrs to American Optical Mesa, a voluntary asaociation of Massachusetts Application May 25, 1938, Serial No. 210,005 3 Shims. (Cl. 88-545) This invention relates to opthalmic lenses and 5.11 isfla front elevation of a lens embodying has particular reference to contact lenses. ven on; One of the principal objects of the invention is Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 1I--II to provide an ophthalmic lens of the contact type of Fig. I; with a portion fitted to the eye of the individual showis the szlcgioigzl vilewg hi: for which the lens is designed. W0 ppe r n P n a e Another object is to provide new and improved eye and lids in section; 'means of fitting contact lenses to the eyes of an Fig. IV is a sectional view of an alternate strucindividual. ture; and

Another object is to provide an ophthalmic lens 8t F s -J is a Sectional View of another alternate oi the contact t havin an eye contacting surface which ay {amid t such a curvature Numerous types oi! contact lenses. that is, lenses as to intimately and accurately fit the lens con- Whig: Kilian 1111i d"use agempositigancid par ially betactin rtlon of an indlvidual's eye. nea e eye an 1 W 8 y Anoihzg-object 1 to prgvldg a ta t l ball, have been made in the 'past and various ata which will greatly reduce eye irritation due to e p s e been m e to p ovide a lens which the use of contact lenseaby providing a more de- Wmlld e f r le to wear. 7 .sirable fit between the lens and the eye One of the greatest dimculties experienced was Another object is to provide a contact lens 01 31 :11 lfllTigi snl aly intimat: iii; of th: which may be fitted to the particular contours of 8118 Over be W an po an P in an individuals eye very accurately, quickly and 3:1 yltlglillf 181:; is supp by 1: co tiwt tl n discomio t to the rson bein 9 eye an 955 an 96mm 8 an 32:17 e or o r pa 8 timalte fit of the supporting portion is obtained, r the lens is liable to loosen and either fall out or Another object is to provide an ophthalmic lens '25 shift its position on the eyeball, or exert uneven of the contact type having means associated d I in u d (11 mt rt therewith wheteby be fitted to the eye of fi s g c ntz ct 1322:: have a 3:11:31 porif n 0?. a an individual said means comprising layer deeper curve or cupping than the remainder, for of deformable material on the eye contacting fitting over the corneal portion of the eye. It

portion oi said lens, which may be caused to flow will be seen that ii a lens were to shift its position or shape itself to fit desirably the contacting poron an e e the cornea would be liable to mi id eye and thereafter be set to retain $1235; by the edge of this deeper cupped. portion. Most contact lenses move with the eyeball, and since Pmvide Phtha1m1 this motion tends to loosen or throw off the lens. lens of the contact type having means associated 35 an intimate and accurate fit is necessary to therewith whereby it may be fitted to the eye of duce desirable results. an individual 5am means comprising layer of In most instances the method of fitting a condeformable material, certain portions of which qtact lens has been a follows: The corneal curve are removed to provide a relieving clearance and is measured with a suitable measuring instrument pmvide f gfi zgz which Wm not Press 40 of the type known in the art, or by other suitable necessan y on e a means. Thi ves th ex mi 1 id Other objects and advantages of the invention f the i shguld Sig $3 322 i: 2 bemme apparent mm the fllwing descrip' tion of the lens. With this to start from, the g wg' 31 a g g ge ggpgz t fig g exlalmlhner tries various lenses until he finds one an man w 0 comes the closest to fittingproperly on the :ih ns may b I g g g sclgraltrl lcritign or thgdeyed {his lensuis left on mangemefl 5 an a a tame us to e ermine e refrac- V a d describeilwifihout departing frOm the Spirit tive error of the eye with that particular lens on of the invention as expressed in the accompanyit The correction is computed and then ground ins cl on the corneal portion of the contact lens. The

examiner uses an instrument such as the slit lamp to determine'whether a lens tits on the sclera. This is shown by the blood vessels which, on one side of a point of pressure, are distended and red,

- 5 and on the other are notably white.

The scleral portion ably in curvature and and even more so in different eyes.

of an eye varies considercontour in a single eye, In order to produce a lens having a portion which will intimately fit the varied contours of the sclera.

measurements or impressions must be taken in all directions and the task of transferring the measurements or impressions to an actual surface which must intimately fit the measured portion involves difilcult, painstaking and erations. tions are expensive one I The lengthy fitting and trying operapainful and time consuming for the patient. Mechanical difiiculties and possibilities of error are considerable, even for a man of more than ordinary skill.

eye and the contours of the eye at the precise points of desired contact and support will be impressed in this material as in making a cast or mold. The lens may be so treated as to harden while remaining on the eye, or it may be removed and hardened so as to set the supporting portions in the exact contours which were impressed "in it by the eye itself. Thus,

with one direct molding operation, a lens is provided which fits desirably and precisely accurately the eye on which it is intended to be used.

30 tem of the eye.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in which like characters of reference dwignate like parts throughout the several views. the lens I embodying the invention comprises a. central visual portion 2 adapted to overly the cornea of an eye 3 and act as part of the optical system of said eye, a peripheral, lens supporting portion 1 attached to or integral with the visual portion 2 and adapted to support same on an eye by lying partially under the eyelids B and over a portion 'of the sclera ill of the eye, and an attached molda-ble layer 9 substantially covering the inner surface of the supporting portion I and adapted to acquire and retain an supporting portion 7 accurate impression or mold of that part of the sclera I! which the lens overlies, and to retain the lens on the eye by means of its self-obtained fit therewith. When the lens i is in use, a liquid 4. I such as isotonic salt solution which may comprise I water, boric acid and sodium chloride, or a solu tion simulating the secretion of the tear glands, is placed between the visual portion 2, and the corneal surface 8 of an eye. This liquid substantially the same index of refraction as the corneaof the eye.

This causes the corneal surfaced":to-eifectively disappear, and'the outer optically corrected surface 6 of the visual portion 2 to take its place in the optical system of the eye. this compensating curvatures of said corneal surface 5.

for whatever error had been produced by any irregularities or incorrect The central visual portion 2 is formed of transparent lens media, such as glass. or'of a material having the characteristics of and is formed so characteristics required" by whom thdlensis who made.-

methyl methacrylate polymer, or any other suitable material. as to have the prescriptive the individual for The scleral orsupportingportion I may be formed-integral with or separate from the cenml or comeal portion 2, in which, latter case'it ,is later suitablyjoined .tolthe central portion 2, as

by suitable adhesives, fusion, solvents ormea chanical means, the said portion 1 being formed to the general-contour shape and size of the por- 7 the completing of the lens.

35 portion 2, thus 55 a suitable adhesive (iiVsurface of portion 1.

10 ing the characteristics of methyl methacrylate,

with the layer 9 Joined with the portion 1 by using an adhesive such as methyl methacrylate plasticlzed with a plasticizer of the type of esters of phthalic acid, or by other suitable means. Material having the characteristics of methyl metharcrylate is taken as the prototype of a clear transparent water and acid resistant synthetic resinous material. When joining the glass and material having the characteristics of methyl methacrylate, the adhesion may be aided by roughening the inner surface of the supporting portion I.

The portions 2 and 1 when completed have relatively hard and rigid characteristics thereby retraining the shape to which they are formed.

The corneal portion 2 is provided with a carefully formed outer surface 6 which acts as one of the main controlling elements of the prescriptive characteristics of the lens, and of the optical sys- The inner surface ll may be left in a relatively rough state. since for practical purposes the index of refraction of the liquid 4 is made substantially equal to that of the cornea 5, and difiers only slightly from that of the visual substantially compensating for any irregularities of the inner surface II. In some instances, however, it may be desirable and/or essential to use the inner surface II as a controlling part of the optical system of the eye 40 or lens. In such cases, this surface should be as the following procedures:

As illustrated in Figs. 11 and III, the inner surface of the supporting portion 1 which overlies the sclera of the eye may be provided with a relatively thin coating I of plastic material such as partially polymerized methyl methacrylate when it is formed of glass, may be provided with such as plasticized methyl methacrylate prior to placing the relatively thin coating or layer 8 thereon. In instances where the portion 1 is formed with material having the characteristics of methyl methacrylate, the in- 6 ner surface of the portion 1 may be treated with phthalic acid or the like, other suitable solvent. The coating or layer 9 will thereby be caused to adhere to the inner The use of phthalic esters causes the coating 8 to have an under layer or layer adjacent the contiguous surfaces of said portion 9 and portion 1 which remains slightly yielding. The inner surface ii, if desired, may be provided with a relatively thin layer of latex prior to placing the coating or or ethyl acetate, or

' tion such as an isotonic water solution,

' miscible with water.

' sclera and is allowed ent that the entire If desired,

' acrylate. in which 'inerization of said the said layer may The lens having the partially polymerized or impressionable surface 9 thereon is held by a suitable suction holder. A solution such as an the like, preferably conbutyn or the like, is placed in the eye and the lens i is then inserted and held in proper axial relation with A slight pressure lens to cause the layer 8 to assume the shape of the sclera o! the eye. The lens is then removed from the eye end polymerization of the layer or coating 8 is then completed by subjecting it to heat of a proper temperature of 85 C. or

Completion of polymerization permanently sets the impression made on the layer 9 by the sclera I 01 the eye so that the said layer will permanently retain this shape. I! a coating oi late'x has been used on. the inner layer ii the said coating is then removed. The edges of the layer, after polymerization has been completed, may be smoothed. The resulting lens will have a relatively intimate comfortable fit with the sclera of the eye and will more positively tend to retain its fitted position with the eye.

It is to be understood that when in use a solucomprising water, boric acid and sodium chloride, is placed in the lens prior to positioning the lens on the eye. The solution will flow outwardly in the act of positioning the lens on the eye so that the cavity between the inner surface H and surface of the cornea of the eye wlll be completely filled with the solution 6.

An alternative method is to plasticize the inner surface of the portion 1 with a volatile plasticizer, such as petroleum ether or the like, not The lens thus treated is placed in desired axial position on the eye with a slight pressure exerted to cause the plasticized'inner surface to assume the shape of the to remain on the eye a length of time sufllcient to allow the volatile plasticizer to evaporate or diii'use out at body temperature. This causes the inner surface to set to the shape of the sclera; It is apparpp portion may be softened by the use of ethyl acetate or the like prior to placing it on the eye, so that, when in position on the eye, the said portion I may assume the shape of the sclera as well as the inner contacting surface of the lid 01 the eye. It is to be understood that the eye is treated with a liquid such as an isotonic salt solution/containing a local anesthetic such as butyn or the like, prior to placing the lens to be fitte l thereas illustrated in Fig. IV. the entire internal surfaces of the central visual portion 2 and supporting portion 1 may be provided with a layer of partially polymerized material having the characteristics of methyl methinstance the layer assumes the'shape of the corneal portion 5 and scleral portion iii of the eye. It is to be understood that the material of the layer 9 has substantially the same index of refraction as the cornea portion 5. The lens having the shaped layer 9 may be removed from the eye and polylayer thereafter completed, or have characteristics which will cause the polymerization to be completed when in the eye.

If desired, the layer 9. adjacent the meeting edges of the visual portion 2 and supporting is exerted on the exist in eyes of "portion 1 has been described as portion I, may be etched or cut to form suitable clearances II.

If desired, as illustrated in Fig. V, only the inner surface ll of the central portion 2 may be provided with a layer 9 which is impressionable to the contour shape of the cornea 5. In this instance, the supporting portion 1 has a slightly spaced relation so that the only part of the lens I which has an intimate fit with the eye is the area extending throughout the central visual portion '2. It is to be understood that the contour edges of the layer 8 may be rounded and smoothed as desired. The layer 9, in the above instance, does not interfere or detract from the visual characteristics of the lens because of its natural clearness, and the thinness of the layer used.

It is to be understood that in forming such lenses the supporting portion 1 is first shaped substantially to the general contour shape of the sclera oi the eye, and that the layer 8 is adapted only to compensate for slight irregularities which difierent individuals, so that the or the central portion 2. as the case may be, may be intimately fitted with the portion of the eye with which they an even pressure to be distributed throughout the contacting area with the eye, so that a more intimate and comfortable fit is obtained.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that simple, efliclent and economical means and processes have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention. The use of methyl methacrylate, for the central portion 2 and supporting portion 1 of the lens causes the lens to be exceptionally light in weight and resistant to impact and possible fracture.

The materials used in forming the lens are resistant to acids and are also resistant to corrosion and tarnish, and have no irritating characteristics. 1

With any of the above methods the resultant lens will have a thin inner layer shaped to have an intimate contact with the eye, that is, either with the scleral portion or with the corneal portion, or both, and its characteristics will be such as to retain its shape.

It is to be noted that the inner layer 9, as illustrated in Fig. II, has a substantially annular shape and that the inner layer 9 in Fig. V has a substantially circular contour.

The groove or channel [2 is of annular shape and may be formed by etching with a suitable acid or solvent or by a suitable grooving or cutting tool. The edges of all the surfaces may be rounded or smoothed, as desired, so that any excess material which might ooze out from the desired contou'i' shape may be removed.

The above method of fitting the lens to the eye exerting a pressure on the lens, when in the eye, to cause the layer ii to assume the shape of the portion of the eye engaged so as to obtain a substantially intimate fit with the scleral portion of the eye, corneal. portion or both.

It has been found, from past experience, that in some cases there are individuals who cannot comfortably make use of a lens which is too in tim'ately fitted with the eye. This may be due to the fact that in'some instances when the eye is moved by the internal, external, superior or inferior rectus muscles, or motive muscular structure of the eye, the outer surface of the sclera portion of said eye may change slightly in shape,

with the sclera portion of the eye engage. This causes a transparent material, such as slight y pensating such changes.

one method of accomplishing this result may be as follows:

The lens having movement of the eye.

It is apparent that the lens, although tially initimately fitted with the substaneye. .will be altered by said eye movements and the fit th as intimate as though 9,240,157 thereby req lfingasuitable clearance at different It is also to be understood that any of the portions throughout the in 1 eye eng steps of the method set forth above may be used surface or the contact lens. This is order to to accomplish the results desired. avoid undue pressure and/or friction irritation ving described our invention, we claim and so forth which might result through such de- 5 1. An ophthalmic lens of the contact type comformations of the eye. This means that a porprising a, central visual portion of transparent tion of the sclera oi the eye, when in one position lens medium and a surrounding supporting por- LOUIS L. GAGNON.

LD R. MOULTON. 

